The Real Blogger Award

Courtesy of my loving mother, I have received the Marie Antoinette Real Blogger Award. Now, why in the world it is called that, I have ZERO idea.....nor does she. This award means a great deal more than you realize. Mom knows how I long to be real in what I say and write here. I never want to hide what is going through my head, mind, and heart. Anyway, she passed it on to me, and now, I am passing it on to three of you.

**Disclaimer**This does not mean I don't think all of your blogs are lovely and "real." Certain lovely thoughts come to my mind when I ready certain lovely blogs. All of you are different; that's a good thing! =) Anyway, I also thought I should limit. But hey, I could always make an award up.

First, I give this award to Kaysie. I have had the pleasure of getting to know her through her blog and occasional e-mails. It doesn't take much to see her heart in the posts that she writes. She doesn't hide her struggles and doubts; she makes it a point for you to know that she sheds tears. But then, she is just as real in how she magnifies the Lord. I love reading Kaysie's stuff. Oftentimes, we have the same thoughts and emotions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Second, I award Jessica. To know why I award Jessica, you have to have a glimpse into my past. (Creepy, isn't it?! =)

For a time, the Lord had us a part of a Church that was very legalistic in nature. You were constantly made to feel you were sinning if you listened to things other than hymns, or if you watched certain movies, or if you did things that weren't necessarily feminine. When we were led to leave, there was pain (because leaving is never easy) But with that pain also came a new sense of freedom. God showed where I had given in to subtle legalism by hiding who I really was. So, now....I feel able to listen to Josh Groban. I can watch movies (provided they line up with my standards) I can enjoy rooting for sports teams. I cannot begin to tell you how liberating it is!!

So, how does this apply to Jessica? Well, she and her family are very strong Christians....and yet they aren't sticks in the mud. They like to dance. They listen to music other than hymns and watch movies (Jessica loves musicals like I do.) She doesn't hide who she is. That means a lot to me, especially after all I have been through.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lastly, I give Jasmine this award. Everything I said about Jessica applies to Jasmine and her family. I love it. But Jasmine also writes about the hard things and what her beliefs and convictions are. All throughout the election, she didn't back down from her stance/belief in Chuck Baldwin. And boy, she could care less if you agree with her or not!

This three fellow sisters in Christ have meant a lot to me. Y'all have. But for those of you who I didn't award (except in my heart) I would encourage you to check these blogs out. Meet and be encouraged by some "real" people.